Page 85 of Five Mountain Daddies

“Don’t forget where you are right now,” he says softly, standing up straight. “And don’t forget who youare.”

I suddenly realize my mistake. For a second, I forgot that I was the boss and that Samuel is the head of the union. Before I can turn to look back at the crowd of miners behind me, he grabs my wrist, keeping my attention focused onhim.

“Don’t worry,” he says softly, that grin so maddeningly attractive. “Nobody’swatching.”

He kisses me full and deep, and for a second I let him. But I quickly pull away. “Samuel,” Isay.

He laughs softly. “What?”

“Somebody might see.” I step away from him, blushing likemad.

“Like I said, nobody’s watching. And plus, isn’t that part of the thrill? What we’re doing is wrong on so manylevels.”

I glare at him. “That’s not what Ilike.”

“What do you like?” He cocks his head, steppingcloser.

I back away, heart hammering. “Let’s just focus on our larger problem,okay?”

He laughs softly. “If that’s what you want. But I don’t think itis.”

Before I can say anything, I hear Callie call my name. I turn and she waves at me, gesturing for me to come join her. I waveback.

“I better go,” Isay.

“Okay. Go have some fun. But don’t forget why you’rehere.”

I look back at him. “Why am Ihere?”

“To remind you that we’re not just a bunch of numbers.” He gives me one more look before walkingaway.

I watch him go for a second, surprised. I knew Samuel wasn’t what he seemed, that he’s more than just some dumb small-town miner boy. Sure, he’s big and he’s handsome, but there’s a lot going on beneath that surface ofhis.

I walk away, frowning. His words keep echoing in my head as I rejoin theparty.

These people aren’t just numbers, but that’s exactly how Ingram and people like him think. I have to strive to be different. I have to find a better way, or else I’m going to be lostcompletely.

12

Samuel

My back aches, my hands are sore, and I swear I keep coughing up black dust, but I feelgood.

I always feel good after a shift down in the mine. You’d think otherwise, since it’s such a physically demanding job, but that’s exactly what I love about it. At the end of a shift, I feel damn good, like I’ve accomplished somethingworthwhile.

But it’s more than just the work itself. I look over at Vernon and he grins at me, holding his drink up. I hold up mine and we both take a nice long chug and laugh together, just one more stupid joke in a long series of stupid jokes. That’s what I really love about this job. It’s the camaraderie of men down in the mine, risking their lives together, trying to make a realliving.

That camaraderie’s been strained lately because of my new union job, but I’m trying not to let it get in the way. I need this shit. It’s what defines me, makes me want to keep going forward. Without the guys and this community, I don’t know what I’d be, if anything atall.

“Damn, boss,” Vernon says to me. “Look at thatone.”

I glance over my shoulder, at some local townie girl dancing over with her friends. It’s around eight at night, and those girls are clearly drunk. They must have started at dinner, or even earlier. The girl Vernon’s looking at has long blonde hair and she’s shaking her hips, laughing as she spills her drink, and she looks back over her shoulder atme.

“I think she likes you, boss,” Vernonsays.

I glance at him. “Stop calling meboss.”

He grins and shrugs a little. “Whatever yousay.”

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